PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill widthraws court challenge

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has officially withdrawn the appeal that he filed in relation to a National Court decision that dismissed an application by him to restrain Police from arresting him.The appeal stems from a National Court decision that refused his application for an interim injunction on a warrant of arrest issued by police for him to present himself for police interrogation in relation to the controversial K71.8 million payments to Paraka lawyers.The warrant was prompted by Task Force Sweep announcing it had new evidence that the Prime Minister was involved in the approval of the payment The Prime Minister had denied signing the payment on numerous occasions and claimed that his signature was forged on the document. His lawyers officially withdrew the appeal yesterday.Lawyers for other parties involved, James Marape, Paul Paraka, State and Police consented to the withdrawal and parties were ordered to bear their own costs.Meanwhile an appeal by James Marape in the same proceedings has been adjourned to the 29th of this month to allow Mr Marape’s lawyers to obtain the necessary court transcripts of the National Court for their appeal.